Official Packers at 49ers Divisional Round Discussion Thread

[Joemailman]

When the Packers played at SF in NFCCG 2019-20, Packers 6 possessions in 1st half went like this:

5 plays-25 yards-punt
5 plays-4 yards-punt
3 plays-minus 11 yards-punt
6 plays-50 yards-fumble
3 plays-14 yards-INT
3 plays-1 yard-punt

Defense tried to hang in there for a while, it was 7-0 after 1st quarter. But it was 27-0 at halftime.

Offense needs to execute early, as they have been lately, to give the defense a chance.

[sharpe1027]

The best defense is a good offense and it has never been more true than in today's NFL.

[George Cumby]

The best defense is a good offense and it has never been more true than in today's NFL.

I think GB's O can go blow for blow with SF. Those six minute, grinding drives will keep our D's legs fresh.

[ThunderDan]

Pretty sure we just crushed Dallas at their own place a couple days ago. Burrow was 28/32 for 283 and 3 TDs against SF. No reason 10VE can't do the same.

I was responding to Tex's opinion that the Cowboys are better than the 49ers.

[run pMc]

Really?? The 49ers crushed the Cowgirls 42-10. Sure seems like that would point to SF being the better team but maybe I am wrong.

Yeah I agree.
SF is the higher seed for a reason -- they're the better team and I don't think it's close.

DAL is better at K and maybe QB because Dak is talented, and probably even at OL and secondary.
SF is better at DL (Bosa + Chase > Micah + Demarcus), LB, WR, TE, RB, and even at FB.

Shanny has his brain farts, especially in the playoffs, but McCarthy ain't exactly known for game management either.

In a matchup on a neutral field, I'd bet SF wins 4 out of 5 times.

[texaspackerbacker]

Uh no hahahahaha.

The Niners have quality at RB and TE, but if the Cowboys are behind at all, it's not much. Pollard is very similar to Aaron Jones, very very good, and Ferguson, as we saw, is excellent, probably as good or better receiver than Kittle although maybe not as good a blocker. And even though we didn't see much of it, Parsons and Lawrence are at least as good as Bosa and Young plus the Cowboy run stoppers are better. At WR, the Cowboys are clearly better.

I say again, the Cowboys are a better team than the Niners - even though they inexplicably floundered badly against them.

This should be an easier game for the Packers than last week.

[RashanGary]

I started watching the last 5 games of the 9ers. Not gonna watch week 18 where they rested.

So far… you cant blitz Purdy. I haven’t seen it work in two full games. Their OL isn’t great, they don’t sustain blocks well, but they’re smart. Between them and the FB, RB, TE, they always pick up the blitz and Purdy gets it out quick every time. Those receivers have been there a while. And all their pass pro guys. They’re just a well oiled machine at picking up the blitz. Purdy is pretty careful with the ball. He just loves it when his big athletic receivers are one on one and he can put it on them quick.

The left side of their line are dominant run blockers. They run a lot to that side and it’s almost always 4-12 yards. Trent Williams never misses a block. They have a road grader RG. And Kittle, Juice and all the receivers block. That run left is just an unstoppable force.

With all of the running left, they like to mix in deebo on a jet sweep coming off run action to the left and it’s been money so far in two games.

I didn’t see any wow plays from Purdy, but I didn’t see many from Brady either. Purdy will throw it away or take a sack and live to fight another down. And that’s frustrating. He’s very accurate from the pocket. He’s not great on the move and not a threat to run. He goes down fairly easy.

They have a really good offense. They have experienced, smart players. They seem to handle situational ball best with all of their experience. Blitz pickup, 3rd down, redzone…. They’re a well oiled machine.

A few years back I watched every 9ers game and almost every other game too. Especially early in the year Shannahan was trying to win cutest coordinator award. They kind of tapered that back toward the end of the season and this year is no different. I don’t see him batting his eyes and trying to be cute. But like Favre and Rodgers, Shannahan has his quirks. He’s holding it in for a minute but with two weeks off, on a big stage, I don’t know if he’s going to be able to get out of his own way.

I think you have to take some chances. For me, looking at where they’ve had their struggles, I think I would, for the most part, have my defensive front play the run first and be real disciplined with it. They’re gonna get yards anyway, they’re that good. But you want to lull Shanny into the drop back pass game. And when you take your shots, it’s not with the blitz, I think you want to have the DL scatter in some aggressive, undisciplined rushes and play coverage behind. Their OL doesn’t hold up for long, so I think you can beat them on first and second down by splashing in a few play where you pin your ears back and hope it’s a pass.

That’s about all I see so far for how to exploit them. And I have a feeling Shanny will gift us a couple too.

I don’t know if relying on bend but don’t break is going to work because they’re really good in the redzone. Like I said, I think the way to beat them is to guess pass on a few plays and have your rush get wild without worrying about the run. You get them in 3rd and long and you have a chance. That’s the game plan I’d draw up….. I would rarely if ever blitz. And I’d always play coverage first. They can kill you quick. Purdy will put it on his guys. And they’re great at YAC.

[RashanGary]

I haven’t checked the stats on what coverages Barry hangs his hat on. Just for the sake of being able to get this point across, let’s say the boys are best in cover 3. On first and second down you align in cover 3 and and the expectation from the offenses perspective is that the line, linebackers and safeties are going to have their eyes on both the run game and the pass game. Your rush would be disciplined, you’d see guys biting a little bit on run action in the back. It’s kind of a core early down concept that handles everything.

If I’m Barry, I have a call in the playbook that’s our go to early down call, but instead of playing it with any discipline toward the run, I’d have it 100% geared toward the pass. Nobody bites on run action. None of your DL worry about run discipline. You’re just taking a guess. Worst case they gash you for 20, but they’re gonna do that anyway over the course of 3 plays and the whole point here is that you’re taking a shot to really get them behind the sticks and give yourself a premium look in 3rd down. I think this is the best way to exploit their weaknesses and it can’t be all of the time. Just guess a couple times and hope you guessed right.

[RashanGary]

Their defense is pretty good, but not dominant. I think their offense is better. Get the ball first, rack 7 on the board. Play disciplined for 5 plays on defense then shoot your shot on (all pass) call and hope you guessed right. Force a punt, stack 7 more on the board and have SF play uphill. That’s my strat.

[Fritz]

When the Packers played at SF in NFCCG 2019-20, Packers 6 possessions in 1st half went like this:

5 plays-25 yards-punt
5 plays-4 yards-punt
3 plays-minus 11 yards-punt
6 plays-50 yards-fumble
3 plays-14 yards-INT
3 plays-1 yard-punt

Defense tried to hang in there for a while, it was 7-0 after 1st quarter. But it was 27-0 at halftime.

Offense needs to execute early, as they have been lately, to give the defense a chance.

That reads like the possession lines from some of the early games this year.

Also I absolutely agree with Mad’s comment above. Packers played those SF games with their sphincters locked so tight you couldn’t get an amoeba through. All clenched teeth and desperation, alternating with bewilderment and eye rolls.

This Packer team shows none of that. All loosey-goosey.

Doesn’t mean they’ll win, but it does mean it should be more fun for them to play - and for us to watch.

House money, baby!

[MadtownPacker]

49ers had 2+ turnovers in 4 games, 1-3 record. Pack D can bend but has to take.

[Fritz]

49ers had 2+ turnovers in 4 games, 1-3 record. Pack D can bend but has to take.

That's probably about it, in a nutshell.

[Sparkey]

Even if he doesn't have a big day, having to tackle him about 15 times can take a toll as the game wears on.

The problem is wet field = wet ball. Not a good combination with a cast on your hand. ( Last I heard, he still had a cast. )

[Sparkey]

If I remember correctly, Ravens at Niners in week 16 was wet and raining? If so, try to fit some of what the Ravens did on D into your game plan. GB has to be able to score more TD's than FG's this game to win it. Niners are going to get theirs.

Turnovers will probably decide the outcome.

[Tony Oday]

I really do not see how the Pack can win this game. I enjoyed the extra win but it will be fun to see how we do against the class of the NFC.